loveaurell
Well-known member
Hi, just wanted to share this project that I completed a while ago. This is my first Teensy based project and I've only completed a couple of preprinted DIY eurorack modules before so I'm quite happy with how it turned out
It's a MIDI controller for the Roland MKS-50. The synthesizer has very limited controlling abilities out of the box and depends on having an external programmer like the PG-300 to use it beyond its presets. Since it's quite old, 1987 it uses its own sysex implementation instead of ordinary cc messages for most of it's parameters, so I decided to make my own implementation.
Say hello to the TC-300!
Live demo here: https://youtu.be/3QjlO-yeFrc
Source code: https://bitbucket.org/loveaurell/roland-alpha-juno-mks-50-midi-controller
Schematics:
https://bitbucket.org/loveaurell/ro...tics for MKS50-MIDI-controller.png?at=default
It has 46 knobs and switches to provide control over all the parameters you are likely to use. Here's a list of what you can control:
LFO:
Rate & delay
DCO:
Transpose (-12 - +12)
Octave (4', 8', 16', 32')
Finetune
Pulse wave (3 waveforms)
Saw wave (5 waveforms)
Sub wave (5 waveforms)
PWM rate & width (a LED is indicating if a pulse or saw waveform that supports PWM is chosen).
Noise level (4 steps)
Sub level (4 steps)
Envelope mode
Envelope modulation amount
Aftertouch modulation amount
LFO modulation amount
VCA:
Level
Envelope mode
Aftertouch modulation amount
VCF:
Cutoff
Resonance
Highpass (4 steps)
Key follow amount
Envelope mode
Envelope modulation amount
Aftertouch modulation amount
LFO modulation amount
ENVELOPE:
7 parameters/stages
Key follow amount
GLIDE:
Time & ON/OFF
CHORUS:
Rate/depth & ON/OFF
MASTER:
Volume
Bend range (1-12)
Poly/mono switch
Send control state button (Dumps all the controls physical positions to the MKS-50)
MOD ASSIGN:
Two buttons for assigning the mod wheel or control pedal to any of the potentiometers/rotary switch on the controller. This is not supported on the MKS-50 itself. It's fun to play around with, especially when assigning it to the octave switch parameter
When designing the panel, I took inspiration from the Roland Juno synths. I also like colour coding of the knobs indicating what function they have (LFO & envelope). Together with the distinct sections and the large envelope sketch, I think I managed to make the interface very intuitive.
The panel design was sent to Takachi Enclosure for inkjet printing and punch pressing on one their aluminum cases.
Here's some info about the MKS-50 and a sound demo (not made by me):
http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/mks50.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCgFoZIH7w
It's a MIDI controller for the Roland MKS-50. The synthesizer has very limited controlling abilities out of the box and depends on having an external programmer like the PG-300 to use it beyond its presets. Since it's quite old, 1987 it uses its own sysex implementation instead of ordinary cc messages for most of it's parameters, so I decided to make my own implementation.
Say hello to the TC-300!
Live demo here: https://youtu.be/3QjlO-yeFrc
Source code: https://bitbucket.org/loveaurell/roland-alpha-juno-mks-50-midi-controller
Schematics:
https://bitbucket.org/loveaurell/ro...tics for MKS50-MIDI-controller.png?at=default
It has 46 knobs and switches to provide control over all the parameters you are likely to use. Here's a list of what you can control:
LFO:
Rate & delay
DCO:
Transpose (-12 - +12)
Octave (4', 8', 16', 32')
Finetune
Pulse wave (3 waveforms)
Saw wave (5 waveforms)
Sub wave (5 waveforms)
PWM rate & width (a LED is indicating if a pulse or saw waveform that supports PWM is chosen).
Noise level (4 steps)
Sub level (4 steps)
Envelope mode
Envelope modulation amount
Aftertouch modulation amount
LFO modulation amount
VCA:
Level
Envelope mode
Aftertouch modulation amount
VCF:
Cutoff
Resonance
Highpass (4 steps)
Key follow amount
Envelope mode
Envelope modulation amount
Aftertouch modulation amount
LFO modulation amount
ENVELOPE:
7 parameters/stages
Key follow amount
GLIDE:
Time & ON/OFF
CHORUS:
Rate/depth & ON/OFF
MASTER:
Volume
Bend range (1-12)
Poly/mono switch
Send control state button (Dumps all the controls physical positions to the MKS-50)
MOD ASSIGN:
Two buttons for assigning the mod wheel or control pedal to any of the potentiometers/rotary switch on the controller. This is not supported on the MKS-50 itself. It's fun to play around with, especially when assigning it to the octave switch parameter
When designing the panel, I took inspiration from the Roland Juno synths. I also like colour coding of the knobs indicating what function they have (LFO & envelope). Together with the distinct sections and the large envelope sketch, I think I managed to make the interface very intuitive.
The panel design was sent to Takachi Enclosure for inkjet printing and punch pressing on one their aluminum cases.
Here's some info about the MKS-50 and a sound demo (not made by me):
http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/mks50.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCgFoZIH7w
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